The second morning in Luminara Reach dawned with the same ethereal twilight glow that defined the 3rd Heaven, the sky a canvas of shifting sapphire and molten gold. Joshua stood once more on the manor balcony, the air around him carrying that noticeable ten-percent richer essence — denser, sweeter, like a constant gentle infusion that sharpened the senses and lightened the spirit. Flying constructs darted between the floating isles at blinding speeds, their rune-etched hulls leaving faint trails of starlight that lingered for seconds before dissolving. In the distance, one of the grand natural reserves — the Eternal Bloom Gardens — shimmered on a nearby isle, its spirit trees cycling through full bloom and gentle wither in mesmerizing rhythm, a phenomenon the family could never have afforded the time or credits to visit in the 4th Heaven.
Jared appeared at the balcony entrance with his usual impeccable timing, the high-grade automaton butler's metallic-sheened uniform catching the light like polished obsidian. "The Trade Association candidates have arrived for interview, my lord. I have screened them to your specified criteria: one dedicated family guard and one additional personal attendant. All are prepared to accept digital payment."
Joshua nodded, and the family gathered in the sunlit atrium for the meetings. The twins, Mia and Kai, sat excitedly on a floating crystal bench, their B-rank jades glowing softly as they whispered about the possibility of a "cool halfblood guard who can teach us sky-riding tricks." Their parents watched with quiet pride, still adjusting to the sheer enormity of their new surroundings — the manor's star-mine humming faintly in the background, a steady source of physical shards that mining automatons were already extracting at a reliable pace.
The first candidate was a mid-grade halfblood guard named Lira, a wolf-lineage woman with sharp silver ears, enhanced senses, and a lean, athletic build. Her market value sat comfortably at 18,500 digital star shards. She bowed respectfully. "I specialize in discreet protection and basic combat instruction for families. I have served three noble households in the past without incident."
Next came a high-grade automaton attendant named Elara, sleek and elegant with a soft synthetic voice and versatile household protocols priced at 3,200 digital star shards. She demonstrated instant compatibility with the manor's systems, syncing seamlessly with Jared.
Joshua consulted Aether silently.
He accepted. Within minutes, contracts were sealed digitally — the preferred method in the 3rd Heaven, where physical star shards were hoarded for cultivation rather than everyday spending. Lira and Elara integrated into the household staff with quiet efficiency, Lira taking up a protective position near the twins while Elara assisted Mother in the floating gardens.
With staff settled, the family decided on their first outing. "Let's visit one of those natural reserves today," Joshua suggested, and the twins cheered. Jared arranged a private flying construct — a mid-tier sky-pod that moved at speeds no peak S-ranker could match on foot. It whisked them across the drifting isles in minutes, the wind whipping past translucent barriers as they soared over grand plazas filled with S-rank cultivators conducting business as casually as people once shopped in the lower heavens.
The Eternal Bloom Gardens were breathtaking up close. Vast terraces of living crystal hosted spirit trees whose flowers opened and closed in perfect sync with essence flows, releasing bursts of purifying mist that accelerated minor tempering. Waterfalls defied gravity here too, cascading upward into rainbow veils. Flocks of luminous birds sang laws-infused melodies that resonated in the chest. Phenomena like this simply hadn't been accessible — or affordable — in the 4th Heaven; the family had neither the money nor the leisure to chase legends. Now they walked among them freely.
As they strolled a glowing petal-strewn path, a small group of nobles approached — three S-rankers from House Varyn, dressed in elegant robes embroidered with house sigils. Their leader, a sharp-eyed man named Lord Kael, offered a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Earl Joshua," he greeted, voice smooth. "We heard of your successful group ascension. Most impressive. Many new arrivals seek alliances here in Luminara Reach. Will you be attending the upcoming conclave? It would be… enlightening to discuss how you plan to contribute to the realm's stability."
Joshua kept his tone neutral and warm. "Thank you, but my focus remains on family and personal cultivation. I have no interest in local power structures or conclaves."
Lord Kael's companions exchanged subtle glances. The political gauging was clear — they were testing whether the anomaly intended to vie for influence. But Joshua's straightforward disinterest seemed to ease the tension almost immediately. Kael's smile softened into something closer to genuine relief. "A rare stance among new nobles. Refreshing, even. We shall not impose further."
As the group departed, Joshua overheard one of the lesser nobles mutter under his breath to another, just loud enough to carry on the essence-rich breeze: "Passer-by. Treats the entire Third Heaven like a mere waypoint. Some of us built our lives here — he climbs through and discards it."
The words carried quiet resentment, the kind born from those who saw Joshua's detachment as an insult to the realm they called home. Not everyone eased off; a few houses clearly hated him for it, viewing the rapid ascension with an entire family as both enviable and dismissive. Yet the majority, sensing no threat to their established territories, began to withdraw their subtle probes. Minor struggles, yes — a few cold stares in public plazas, an occasional delayed permit for reserve access that was quickly corrected once his disinterest became known — but nothing overt. His lack of interest in noble politics acted as a shield, allowing the family to simply enjoy the upgrades.
Back at the manor that evening, the new staff had already enhanced the household's rhythm. Lira demonstrated basic sky-maneuvering forms to the twins in one of the open pavilions, while Elara prepared a meal infused with essence-rich herbs from the garden. Jared oversaw it all with flawless courtesy.
Father leaned back in a floating chair, watching the starlit isles drift past. "It's strange… back home we worried about every coin. Now we have automatons, halfblood guards, reserves we can visit on a whim. And yet some people resent us for not wanting to play their games."
Mother squeezed his hand. "Let them. We climbed for each other, not for thrones."
Joshua sat with the twins, listening to their excited recounting of the day. Kai practiced a small essence technique Lira had shown him, while Mia activated her B-rank jade to display holographic maps of other nearby phenomena. The minor political undercurrents existed — the resentment from those who saw him as a passer-by, the eased pressure from those who no longer viewed him as competition — but they felt distant, like background noise against the grandeur of the 3rd Heaven.
Later, alone in the cultivation chamber beside the active star mine, Joshua circulated essence while monitoring the mining output. Physical shards accumulated steadily in a secure vault — pure stellar essence far more valuable than digital credits for the ascendant elixirs he planned. He wasn't in a rush; the family had time here. His parents didn't need to fight like climbers. They simply needed to live long enough to reach the Divine Heavens, where even mortals enjoyed lifespans so vast they felt like immortals.
A soft chime from Aether interrupted his thoughts.
Joshua smiled faintly. The struggles were minor indeed. The 3rd Heaven continued to reveal its wonders, and for now, the family was free to enjoy them.